AIM: Vitamin D deficiency is very common among HIV-infected subjects. We cross-sectionally evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for hypovitaminosis D in 91 HIV-infected Italian patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied in a cohort of 91 HIV-infected Italian patients the metabolism of Vitamin D by evaluating the in vitro expression of CYP27B1, CYP24A1 and vitamin D receptor (VDR) by monocytes and macrophages stimulated with the viral envelope protein gp120 or lipopolysaccharide (LPS).